Videos

The Policy Monitor tracks Federal, Provincial and Territorial early childhood policy initiatives, developments and announcements.

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Fostering joyful eaters through CELEBRATE Feeding

Fostering joyful eaters through CELEBRATE Feeding

Food and feeding is an integral part of early learning and child care programs. In addition to regulations for the kinds of foods that are provided, many jurisdictions are including recommendations for responsive feeding environments that encourage children to development positive relationships with food, practice self-regulation through responding to hunger and fullness, and build comfort with a variety of foods and textures.

CELEBRATE Feeding (Coaching in Early Learning Environments to Build a Responsive Approach to Eating and Feeding) is an ongoing research initiative in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island that partners with early learning and child care settings in creating healthy eating environments that promote responsive feeding practices.

This webinar with Dr. Jessie-Lee McIsaac, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre at Mount Saint Vincent University, introduced the principles of responsive feeding through the CELEBRATE Feeding Approach, including mealtime and feeding routines, supportive language, role modeling, cultural inclusion, and creative opportunities for children to learn about and explore food at their own pace. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the resources available and future opportunities to become involved to reshape the food and feeding environment in early learning and child care.
OISE building exterior

Who is building Canada’s child care?

Since late 2022, Canada has added more than 87,000 new child care spaces for children aged 0–5. Nearly 72% of that growth was in for-profit care, driven by larger for-profit chains. This video shows where those chains are expanding and what their growing role means for the future of child care.
Quality Counts: Part I, Measuring What Matters

Quality Counts: Part I, Measuring What Matters

Quality Counts: Measuring What Matters in Early Learning for Accountability and Quality Improvement, with Michal Perlman, Ph.D., Professor, Atkinson Chair of Child Development and Education Dept of Human Development and Applied Psychology, OISE, University of Toronto.

These two research-informed sessions will explore how the best available evidence can guide the definition, measurement, and use of quality indicators in early childhood education and implementation considerations. Participants will examine practical approaches to using data for accountability, strategic planning, continuous quality improvement, and informed investment in early learning systems.

Part 1 of the series looks at "Measuring What Matters"
SI2026 - Hero Image (child in boots in puddle)

22nd Annual Summer Institute: Power and Potential – The ECE Workforce as a Force for Social Change

The Summer Institute is an annual collaboration between the School of Early Childhood at George Brown Polytechnic and the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto. The Institute brings together educators, system leaders, researchers, policymakers, and advocates to explore pressing issues in the early years.

This year’s theme, Power and Potential – The ECE Workforce as a Force for Social Change, highlights the essential role educators play as leaders, advocates, and equity champions in and outside the classroom. Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, participants will explore how educators influence systems, strengthen communities, and advance justice in the early years.

Sessions include topics such as anti-racist and gender-expansive pedagogy, Indigenous perspectives on quality, immigration and workforce diversity, equity-focused professional development, and integrated service models that foster continuity for children and families.
Waterloo Extended Day webinar - Part II, Implementation

Waterloo Extended Day webinar - Part II, Implementation

At a time when many before- and after-school programs are closing, WRDSB has taken a different approach: expanding access through school board–operated programs.

Before- and after-school care is available in all WRDSB schools for children from junior kindergarten to Grade 6. The Board directly operates extended-day child care in 75 of its 104 elementary schools, employing 330 unionized, full-time Early Childhood Educators and serving approximately 4,200 children.

The initiative started over 15 years ago as a partnership between the Region of Waterloo, the WRDSB, and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. The WRDSB continues to expand the model despite a significant province-wide shortage of early childhood educators, demonstrating how effective system design can support both access and workforce stability.

Part 2 of the series provides a focus on implementation considerations for communities interested in adopting a similar approach.

Waterloo School Board Extended Day Model - part 1

Waterloo Extended Day webinar - Part I

At a time when many before- and after-school programs are closing, WRDSB has taken a different approach: expanding access through school board–operated programs.

Before- and after-school care is available in all WRDSB schools for children from junior kindergarten to Grade 6. The Board directly operates extended-day child care in 75 of its 104 elementary schools, employing 330 unionized, full-time Early Childhood Educators and serving approximately 4,200 children.

The initiative started over 15 years ago as a partnership between the Region of Waterloo, the WRDSB, and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. The WRDSB continues to expand the model despite a significant province-wide shortage of early childhood educators, demonstrating how effective system design can support both access and workforce stability.

Part 1 of the series provides an overview of the Waterloo model and its outcomes.

OISE building exterior

Extended Day Programs: Building Inclusive Environments for All Children

This video highlights the seamless model used in Waterloo, where before- and after-school care is closely aligned with the core school day to create a consistent experience for children. By reducing transitions and supporting continuity across the day, children remain in familiar environments with trusted educators and peers. This approach helps create stable, responsive learning spaces that support all children while also making the day easier to navigate for families.
OISE building exterior

Extended Day Programs: Supporting Children, Families, and Educators in Waterloo Region

Extended Day Programs play a vital role in supporting children, families, and educators across the Waterloo Region District School Board. This video highlights how high-quality extended day programming contributes to children’s learning, wellbeing, and sense of belonging, while also supporting families with flexible, reliable care that aligns with the school day. The video also explores the benefits for educators, including opportunities to build strong relationships with children and families, support continuity of learning, and work within a stable, community-based setting. Together, these programs strengthen school communities and contribute to a more responsive, inclusive early learning and child care system. Learn how Extended Day Programs help create positive outcomes for children, families, and the educators who support them every day.
OISE building exterior

A Collaborative Approach: The Partnership Behind Extended Day Programs in Waterloo Region

Strong Extended Day Programs are built on strong partnerships. This video explores how collaboration between the Region of Waterloo, the Waterloo Region District School Board, and early learning and child care partners created a shared approach to planning, delivering, and sustaining Extended Day Programs. By aligning roles, responsibilities, and priorities, partners worked together to ensure programs are responsive to community needs, support children’s learning and wellbeing, and provide consistency for families. The video highlights how ongoing communication, shared problem-solving, and trust between system partners have been essential to navigating implementation and strengthening program quality. This partnership model demonstrates how coordinated governance and collaboration across education and child care systems can lead to more effective, accountable, and sustainable programs for children, families, and educators.
OISE building exterior

Belonging from the Start: Inclusion in the Early Years with Dr. David Philpott

In this virtual session with Dr. David Philpott, part of our Beyond the Podcast series, we explore the vital role of inclusion in early childhood programs. Dr. Philpott discusses the importance of the environment as the “third teacher” and how children learn with, from, and about one another—where diversity itself becomes the curriculum.

This session also highlights what makes strong public policy to ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
OISE building exterior

The Importance of Junior Kindergarten

Every child deserves the best possible start. Expanding public education to include 4-year-olds through universal junior kindergarten is not just an investment in early learning, it’s an investment in equity, families, and our collective future. By ensuring access for all, we can close gaps before they widen, strengthen communities, and give every child the foundation they need to thrive.
OISE building exterior

Webinar: Every Child Belongs: Gender Expansiveness and 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Early Years

In this virtual session Shailja Jain, Professor & Coordinator, School of Early Childhood, George Brown College, explores practical strategies and inclusive practices to support gender diversity and 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion in early childhood settings.

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